What is beginning to turn into a bi-annual January social gathering on the Isle of Axholme ten folk joined us at the car park to begin one of our open challenge walks The Vermuyden Way.

Four Vermuyden members, three East Yorks, High Peak, West Yorks and a token Pirate began at 08:30am.

Finding the old rail line through the back end of Belton found us onto the lane over the M180 bridge and then the path alongside turning right towards the old rail viaducts. Crossing the A161 and onto the River Torn bank all the way back to another M180 bridge where we had an early Elevenses.

Back on the bank for another 4 miles saw us eventually find the very straight Wroot road then Greenholme Bank took us to some major quarry workings finding Westwoodside for lunch.

Some went straight to the pub some had sandwiches at the pond, we all met up at the pub and away for 13:15.

A short loop took us into Haxey passing the church where the Haxey Hood begins. (we only missed it by 2 weeks) an urban route through Haxey found Blackmoor Lane towards East Lound.

Now some muddy fields began, the route up to High Burnham. Yes we found a hill eventually, leaving the farm track down to Low Burnham then a short climb we found Rectory Road in Epworth.

The Methodism movement began here at the Old Rectory where the Wesley’s lived creating the Wesleyan Church movement.

Round the back end of Epworth yet another straight path had us crossing Belton Road past a couple of old windmills and an undulating route for the last half mile found us back at the car park in good time.